McCain to Romney critics: 'Lighten up!'

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Friday defended GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney from critics who mocked him for calling himself an "unofficial Southerner" at a campaign stop the previous day.

Now they’re attacking Romney for joking about learning to say “y’all”? According to the left, no one can have a sense of humor - lighten up!

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 9, 2012

In Mississippi, Romney told the crowd that his bodyguard, a Mississippi native, was turning him into an "unofficial Southerner."

"I'm learning to say 'y'all' and I like grits, and strange things are happening to me!" the former Massachusetts governor added.

Critics were quick to jump on Romney's comments as just a poor attempt to connect to Southern voters, something observers have said he has struggled to do so far in his campaign.

MSNBC morning show host Joe Scarborough, who was born in Georgia, suggested Friday morning that Romney's Southern impression wasn't fooling any true Southerner.

Romney jokes he's becoming an "unofficial southerner" & Joe jokes "Nobody believes he's one of us. Nobody." #morningjoe

— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) March 9, 2012

Romney on Thursday called the Mississippi and Alabama primaries "a bit of an away game" for him, but he still hoped to pick up some delegates in the two Deep South states voting next week.

"That, of course, is what this is all about: getting the delegates necessary to become the nominee," he said.

McCain, who was the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, endorsed Romney as the nominee in early January.

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